In this week’s news highlights we will update you about the global human rights situation, Germany’s rising resistance to deport Afghan migrants and recent developments in the Horn of Africa. This includes a media coverage concerning the increasing food crises and controversial cooperation in Sudan to support peace efforts.
Last Saturday, 11 February 2017, several thousand people took to the streets in 13 German cities to protest against mass deportations of Afghan asylum seekers. The demonstrations criticised the current accelerated return operations of Afghan refugees that are denied asylum status in Germany. What could not be foreseen by then was that their protests would be challenged the following Monday, 13 February 2017. On that day the European Council announced to sign another agreement on partnership and development with Afghanistan in Bavaria’s capital city Munich the upcoming Friday. The agreement seeks inter alia “joint management of migrations flows” and supports return and readmission operations.
Translation of the interview with migration and development expert Sophia Wirsching, first published in German at domradio.de.
“Creating safe reception facilities in transit countries” is a goal of SPD faction leader Thomas Oppermann. Hence, he encourages cooperation with Libya. The charity Bread for the World deems this questionable under international law.